This is a prototype of the power system for the Magdrive thrusters, called 'Operation Get it Up.' This is the 'brain' of the thruster. This is a model of the flight unit that launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in 2023. The pre-launch installation and integration with the spacecraft was successful, however, they were not able to communicate with the satellite that the power system was on so no data could be collected on how it functioned in space. In addition to testing the electrical system, the cathode arc thruster (CAT) was also tested. This element was developed by the University of Southampton.
Magdrive's 'Rogue' thruster uses solid metal propellant as fuel. Rapid pulses of energy heat up the metal, turning it into a hot plasma which is then forced out using magnetic fields, generating thrust.
Metal is inert which means there are no combustable materials in the thruster, minimising risk. It also means there are no fuel pipes or tanks needed. Metal is also abundant in space, meaning that its could be possible to refuel spacecraft using space debris or even mining asteroids. The thrusters can react quickly in space, maneuvering spacecraft out of debris paths or to alter its orbit.
Details
- Category:
- Space Technology
- Object Number:
- 2025-928
- Materials:
- aluminium (metal), copper (alloy), fibreglass, tin (metal), silver (metal), copper (metal), plastic (unidentified), ceramic (unspecified), plastic ABS, PLA, PTFE, gold (trace) and steel (metal)
- type:
- thruster prototype
- credit:
- Magdrive
